Video shows inept car thieves in action

Video shows inept car thieves in action

A still image from a security camera shows a would-be thief entering a vehicle in a Mont Pleasant driveway on New Year's Eve.

Photographer: Provided

SCHENECTADY — A Mont Pleasant man is hoping surveillance video captured by his home security system will help identify the people who tried to steal an SUV from his property on New Year’s Eve.

The video shows two people, apparently youths, getting into the vehicle outside the man’s home before driving it into the man’s van, which was parked next to the SUV. The would-be-thief then backs up and hits the man’s house before hitting the van again.

The youths, one of whom appears to be wearing a backpack in the video, fled on foot as the homeowner gave chase.

The resident spoke to The Daily Gazette Tuesday on the condition that his name not be used. However, he provided a copy of the video of the incident.

He also turned the video over to police, who are investigating. A police spokesman confirmed Tuesday the investigation is continuing, and no arrests had been made.

The incident happened just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday evening, the resident said.

He and his family had just returned from the market when the attempted theft occurred. The man recalled hearing the SUV hit the house and running from the house to see what happened.

He first thought kids had thrown items at the house but quickly saw the damage when he got outside. He also spotted the youths in a neighboring yard and gave chase.

“I told them to stop,” the man recalled. “I told them, ‘I’ve got you on video,’ thinking maybe they were going to stop ... It doesn’t work that way.”

The man followed the individuals a couple of blocks before losing them, he said.

He returned home and pieced together what happened through the damage and the video. He installed the video system about four years ago and upgraded the cameras about two years ago, he said.

His family has lived in the Mont Pleasant home for decades, he said. He cited other vandalism and said he understands police get stretched thin, but he believes there should be an increased police presence in the area.

The SUV, his father’s, was about to be shipped to Florida. The youths apparently found the keys in his wife’s car, after taking all her change, and figured out they belonged to the SUV.